steam



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. w. H. COLEMAN.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING AIR, STEAM, &c. No. 893.540. Patented Nov. 271888.

WwNasszs=- NYQlTo -A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. H. COLEMAN.

, APPARATUS FOR HEATING AIR STEAM, 8:0.

No. 393,540. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HEAD COLEMAN, OF NENV YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING AIR, STEAM, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,540, dated November27, 1888.

Application filed Oetoherfi, 1886. Renewed February 2!), 1888. SerialNo. 265.680. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HEAD COL]? MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forHeating Air, Steam, or Equivalent Medium, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of such invention is to devise an improved apparatus wherebythe heating and distributing of air, steam, or equivalent me dium may bethoroughly and economically accomplished and the resultant temperatureof the heated medium kept well under control.

The apparatus may be used for heating or reheating air or for heating orsupcrheating steam or gases or any equivalent medium capable of beingpassed through. the retorts. A special use to which it may be applied isthe furnishing of heated dry air or moist air for seasoning lumber orfor drying malt, grain, or like products and materials.

My improvements consist in the combination of the several portionscollectively or with each other, as may hereinafter be described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a furnaceprovided with my improved retorts. Fig. 2 representsasectional elevationof furnace, flue, or connection with retorts in place. Fig. 3 representsa longitudinal section and front elevation of the retorts. Fig. 4- showsdetails of saturator or sprinkler for moistening or impregnating thepassing medium with additional improving material. Fig. 5 representsfront elevation of furnace or chamber with wall-plates in position tohold the retorts. Figs. 6, 7, and 11 show the method of connecting theretorts with supporting-plates. Fig. 6 shows an outside view ofretort-leg A, with supportingplates G,in section. Fig. 7 is a verticalsection through inclosing walls D and a side view of both legs of theretort and supporting plates G, the upper portion being broken away.Fig. 7 also shows the gate-valves G, G, and I and connections H inplace. Fig. 11 shows a horizontal section through walls of furnace orchamber. It also shows a plan and side view of valves G, G, and I.Valves G, G, and I are constructed alike, being for air purposes,asshown. \Vhen steam or gas is to be passed through the retorts, a tightgate valve or screw-stop valve will necessarily be used. Fig. 8represents a front view of the supporting-plates in halves at m :r,withthe upper retortleg in section and lower retort-leg flanged. Fig. 9 is arear view of the supporting-plates with section through retortlegs at yy, and showing flanges or lugs c in position. These lugs 0 may becarried about the legs A to a full circle, but are preferably made asshown, Fig. 10 shows special detail of plates 0 separated.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

A A designate the legs of the retort, and A the return-bend connectingthe same. These retorts are arranged singly or in sets, to be heated bydirect heat'radiation or by the passage of products of combustion from afurnace or heat-generating apparatus more or less distant from theretorts.

B designates a furnace immediately below the retorts.

O designates the divided supporting-plate, each portion of which is made,to fit into a neck or groove formed between front flanges, c c, andinner lugs, c c, on both legs of retort. The halves of thesupporting'plate, as repre' sented, are brought into close-joint contactand bolted securely to the walls of the furnace or heating-chamber atboltholes a a, &c. The rear or return portion, A, is supported at 0 upona cross-bar extending between the walls of the chamber. Spiralpartitions, &c., or diaphragms are placed Within the legsA A of theretorts to form channels for the air to pass through and present amaximum of heat contact.

In the upper leg A of the retort, as shown in Fig. 3, a single spiral isshown. In the lower leg A a double spiral is shown, forming the channelsc 0 At the bends of the retorts coils of wire 0 are placed to fill upthe return space, as well as act as a retarding and convection material.Chips of metal and like material may be used.

On the outer surface of the retorts ribs 0* are placed or cast topresent increased external heat-absorbing surfaces.

At 0' a lug or projection is formed to rest upon a supporting-bar, an,attached to and extending between the inclosing walls or sidings of thefurnace or heating-chamber.

D designates the inclosing walls or sidings forming the heating furnaceor chamber. They are constructed of brick or stone for stationarypurposes and lined with fire-brick or heatresisting materials. The wallsor sidings may be of metal, with similar heat-resisting lining forportable uses.

E designates a moistener or saturator. In the detail, Fig. 4. aperforated sprinkler-coil is placed either double, as in thecross-section,

- or single, as in the longitudinal section, as

shown at e and e. The chamber E is en larged to suit the outer diametersof the flanges of piping or retorts, and the sprinklercoils set of suchsweep and diameter as not to interfere with the area of the piping orpassage. The saturating or impregnating medium is admitted underpressure through the pipe-connections 0, in quantities to suitrequirements, and sprinkled through holes or perforations in the coils eor e".

To improve the effectiveness of the furnace or heat-developingapparatus, a blower-pipe, E, forms a connection between the retorts andthe furnace or between the crosses and furn ace, and ajet of air ofgreater or less magnitudeis forced to increase combustion. The valve fcontrols the strength of the jet.

In the construction and operation of the apparatus one or more retortsare projected horizontally into theheating chamber or flue, and each legA A of the retort is furnished at'it-s immediate end with a valve, G,and cross eonneetion H. The cross-connections are joined by a thirdvalve, I, and communicating pipes K are attached to the upper cross H,while discharge-pipes K are attached to the lower cross H, or viceversa, according as the movement in the retorts takes place. Asrepresented in the drawings, the air, steam, or heated medium isadmitted through K, H, and valve G, passes through the retort, comes incontact with the heated surfaces of the legs and elbows, takes up theheat, and exits through the lower valve, G, whence it is conveyed to therequired localities. In case the heated medium becomes of too high a temperature, the valve I is opened, admitting the unheated material orfluid to mingle with the heated, thus tempering it to the requireddegree. with a hot fire and a call for low temperature the valve G ispartially closed and valve I opened, or the valve G may be kept fullopen and valve G closed, partially permitting but a limited amount topass for heating. By varying this manipulation a close accuracy oftemperature may be easily attained. The valves G, G, and I are alike inconstruction, being here represented as damper or slide-gate valves ofordinary pattern. They may, however, be replaced by valves of any styleor type, as necessity or choice may demand. A thermometer may be placedat h to indicate delivery temperature. In case the heated air be too dryfor required purposes, moisture of any kind may be sprayed through thesaturating-pipes e e in the chamber E till the required dampness isattained.

Where direct heat from a furnace is applied to the retorts, a protectingguard-plate, L, is curved beneath the lower leg of the retort,protecting it from fracture or damage. The heat passes up through theside spaces, Z Z. An arch, M, of fire-brick or similar material, iscarried across the space between the legs of the retorts, and this, incombinationwith the guard-plate L, forms a fine along which the heatpasses, impinging upon the lower leg 'of' with flanges c and lugs c, adivided supporting-plate, G, fitting into the neck formed between saidflanges and lugs and the walls ofa heating furnace or chamber,substantially as set forth.

' 2. In an apparatus for heating air, steam, or equivalent medium, thecombination of the herein-described retort, the guard-plate L, thedividing-arch M, and a heating furnace or chamber, substantially as andfor the puposes specified.

3. In an apparatus for heating air, steam, or equivalent medium, thecombination of the herein-described retort, consisting of two legs and areturn bend, each leg being provided with flanges c and lugs c, and thereturn-bend with lug 0 a divided supporting-plate, G, walls D, andsupporting-bar at, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for heating air, steam, or equivalent medium, thecombination of the herein-described retort, means for supporting thesame in a heating furnace or chamber, dividing-arch M, guard-plate L,and the inner spiral partitions, c and coils c", substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus for heating air, steam, or equivalent medium, thecombination of the herein-described retort, valvesG, G, and I, andintermediate connections, H H, whereby the temperature of the heatedmedium is kept under control, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus for heating air, steam, or equivalent medium, thecombination of the herein-described retort, valves G, G, and I,intermediate connections, H H, pipes K and K, and satu rator ormoistener E, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM HEAD COLEMAN.

XVitnesscs:

WM. H. WEIGHTMA A. M. PIERCE.

